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December 2, 2008 10:43:32 AM CST

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Labour Party Escapes Election Catastrophe

Posted May 4, 07 3:42 PM CDT in World 

(Newser) – Tony Blair's Labour Party took a beating in yesterday's local elections, winning just 27 percent of the vote. But both the party—wildly unpopular because of Blair's Iraq war stance and several recent scandals—and pundits scored the result a minor victory because Labour lost only 410 local council seats rather than the predicted 600.

David Cameron's Tories captured 41 percent of the vote nationally—a leg up on Labour, but short of the referendum the party had wanted. Meanwhile, the Scottish National Party scored a one-vote margin over Labour and will control 47 of 129 parliament seats. Without a majority, the pro-independence party will try to form a coalition government.

Source Guardian (UK)

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/Tim Ockenden/PA) UNITED KINGDOM OUT NO SALES NO ARCHIVE   (Associated Press)
British Prime Minister Tony Blair speaks about council elections at the Labour Party's headquarters, central London Friday May 4, 2007. Blair on Friday played down the Labour Party's losses in local and...   (Associated Press)
Conservative Party leader David Cameron gives the thumbs up during a visit to Chester city center, Chester, England, Friday May 4, 2007. The Conservative's took hold of the city following Thursdays local...   (Associated Press)
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Iraq war • Great Britain • United Kingdom • Tony Blair • Labour Party • Scotland • British elections • Tories • Scottish National Party


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